Program Bio

Leona Farrell is a third year student at UVA for one semester of Study Abroad. She comes from Melbourne, Australia, and is studying French Horn at Melbourne University for a Bachelor of Music. She moved to Melbourne to study music at University from a large country town called Shepparton, two hours inland in central Victoria.

Leona started learning piano when she was 11, and took up French Horn when she started High School. She has been involved in many different musical pursuits, including competitions with the Shepparton Brass Band where she won the Junior French Horn section of the National Brass Band Championships; Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra, traveling two hours to Melbourne every Saturday for rehearsals, and going on tour to Sydney; many theater shows with the Shepparton Theater Arts Group; and the University of Melbourne Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and smaller ensembles.

Leona plans to expand on her musical career by earning a double degree of Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Teaching at Melbourne. She would like to teach music at High School level, and has aspirations to run a very dynamic and challenging music program. Leona is very excited to be given this opportunity to conduct the Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol with the Wind Ensemble. Percy Grainger is a celebrated composer in Australia, and a very worthy piece for her first conducting experience.